The Rugby School

What The Rugby School does

The Rugby School at Woodfield is a private, NJ Department of Education-approved special education school located at 1604 Woodfield Avenue in Wall Township, New Jersey. Founded in 1977 by school psychologist Donald J. De Santo, the school serves K-12+ students ages 5-21 with learning disabilities and behavioral challenges referred from public school districts across Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer, Middlesex and surrounding counties. The institution is led by Executive Director Dolores De Santo, who assumed the role in September 2006 to continue her father's legacy.

The school's offering combines a New Jersey Student Learning Standards-aligned core academic curriculum with a multidisciplinary therapeutic layer (art therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, individual/group counseling, behavior management, and a Shepherding program) and specialized electives including culinary arts, driver's education, performing and visual arts, world language, and an Extended School Year summer program. Two transitional services — Rugby W.O.R.K.S. for workforce readiness and Fast Start for dual-enrollment college credit — extend the product surface into post-secondary outcomes for students aged 14 and above. Class sizes are capped at 12 students with at least one certified teacher and one paraprofessional per classroom, and the institution holds approvals from both the NJ Department of Education and the NJ Department of Vocational Education.

The business model is a B2B/B2G district-funded placement model: sending school districts pay all tuition and program costs, with supplemental revenue from state and federal grants. There is no cost to families. Enrollment is initiated through school counselor referrals, direct family inquiries, or district placement, followed by a personalized facility tour. The institution is family-owned and independently operated, with no external investors or parent company, and has accumulated 47 years of continuous operation as of 2024.

Name

The Rugby School

Legal name

The Rugby School at Woodfield

Website

https://rugbyschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Rugby School at Woodfield is a private NJ-approved special education school serving K-12+ students ages 5-21 with learning disabilities and behavioral challenges, funded through out-of-district placements from New Jersey public school districts and state and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• K-12 special education
• Therapeutic education programs
• Special needs schooling
• Workforce transition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Asbury Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. School District Funding: All costs associated with the program are covered by the sending school district. The school also secures grant funding from state and federal agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Rugby School at Woodfield operates a private K-12+ special education school in Wall Township, NJ, delivering individualized academic instruction aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards to students ages 5-21 with learning disabilities and behavioral challenges. Its offering combines a core academic curriculum with comprehensive in-house therapeutic services (counseling, art therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavior management, shepherding), specialized electives (culinary arts, driver's education, performing and visual arts, world language, learning lab), and transitional programs (Rugby W.O.R.K.S. workforce readiness and Fast Start college dual-enrollment), plus a six-week Extended School Year summer program. Placements are funded by sending New Jersey school districts and state/federal grants; no cost is borne by families.

Product overview

The Rugby School offers a single unified special education program for K-12+ students with special educational needs, combining core academic curriculum following New Jersey Student Learning Standards with comprehensive therapeutic services (Art Therapy, Behavior Management, Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Shepherding), specialized programs (Culinary Arts, Driver's Education, Performing Arts, Visual Arts), and transitional services (Rugby W.O.R.K.S. for workforce readiness and Fast Start for college preparation). The school provides extended school year programming, learning support, extracurricular clubs, and student activities in a nurturing environment with individualized attention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Academic Curriculum Comprehensive K-12+ academic program following New Jersey Student Learning Standards, offering English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies/History, World Language, and Physical Education & Health with differentiated instruction tailored to individual student needs. Designed for K-12+ students ages 5-21 with learning disabilities and behavioral challenges.
• Transitional Services - Rugby W.O.R.K.S.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ASAHmoderateOthersMember of ASAH, a not-for-profit organization of private schools and agencies in New Jersey which provide highly specialized services to more than 11,000 infants, children and young adults with disabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Forman School: Connecticut private boarding/day school serving students with specific learning disabilities and ADHD through individualized curriculum and small classes — comparable private special ed operating model in the Northeast.
• The Gow School: New York private boarding/day school for students with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities using small-group, multisensory instruction — directly comparable specialized private school model.
• The Newgrange School: New Jersey private school for students with language-based learning disabilities and special needs, using small class sizes and individualized instruction funded by sending school districts — same operating model and NJ catchment.
• Winston Preparatory School: Multi-campus private school (NY/NJ/CT) for students with learning disabilities and executive functioning challenges using individualized instruction — comparable model with overlapping NJ presence.
• Eagle Hill School: Massachusetts-based private school for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and language-based learning differences using small, individualized classes — comparable specialized education model with out-of-region residential footprint.
• Y.A.L.E. School: New Jersey-based private special education provider serving students with autism, behavioral, and learning challenges through district-funded out-of-district placements — directly comparable model, geography, and customer base.
• The Calais School: New Jersey private special education school serving students with learning disabilities, social/emotional challenges, and autism through district-referred placements — directly comparable private special ed model in the same geography.
• The Phoenix Center: New Jersey private special education school serving students with autism, behavioral, and developmental disabilities via district-funded placements — same operational structure and ASAH membership.
• The Kildonan School: New York private boarding/day school specifically serving students with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities — comparable specialized academic model for learning-disabled students.

Broad incumbents

• The Lab School of Washington: Established private special education school (DC) serving students with learning disabilities and ADHD through a broader portfolio of programs and a wider arts/academic integration — comparable model at greater scale and national reputation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/therugbyschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/therugbyschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rugby-school-at-woodfield

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Rugby School